Impingement of the shoulder can be treated non-surgically via stretching, resting, physical therapy and/or localized cortisone injections. Treatment may take several weeks to months. Many patients experience a gradual improvement and return to function.

In cases of surgery, it typically takes two to four months to achieve complete relief of pain, and may take up to a year for the shoulder to heal completely. Are you considering this surgery yourself?

yes, as a last resort I dont want to have to put up with flare ups everytime I overdo it. I have tried every treatment so far bar surgery ! I need to work and at the moment It is impossible just driving is hard enough.
I have had a cortisone injection but that didnt go to well, it actually made it worse for the first week after, I still dont think it made much difference.
anyway I am seeing a exercise physiologist soon and hopefully he can help exercise the problem away by stabilising the scapular muscles.
whats annoying is it seems to get better, but it only lasts for about a week and then it flares up again, Ive had this going on for about 5/6 mths now.

ne22

Right --- it sounds like you simply need rest or shoulder training. I'm sorry to hear of your discomfort. I would also ask your exercise physiologist what s/he thinks of practices for the joints like yoga, tai chi or qi gong. As I understand, these exercises routines can be very helpful. When's your appointment?

thanks for your post!
My appointment was yesterday, they gave me stretching exercise to do plus weight exercises 1kg this went ok , I was a bit sore that night and abit tender this morning. I was given homework to do for this week untill i see them again next tuesday. They advised it is possible I could have flare ups and to try and find a happy medium but in the long term they think it will settle and go away.
I had thought about pilates in the future as an overall maintenance program to help avoid this from coming back. I was a bit weary about this before when the flare ups were constant but will defiently be doing some kind of overall body stretching program like pilates,yoga etc. I was also told when you have an injury like this exercise and stretching needs to be done for life to avoid it coming back.

ne22

Are you still keeping up with your regimen a few weeks later? How's it going?

yes, I am still doing the weekly session supervised and each week they get me to do more reps started with 10 reps per machine now I am doing 2 sets of 10 reps with a rest inbetween .. I also have homework doing weight exercises and stretching excercises... I have been just about fully pain free get the occassional niggles after heavy use but It seems to be working really well ...I am starting to feel as if my arm is normal again I forgot what that felt like ... so I am really pleased with the progress best thing I ever did...First thing I noticed that was different was I was getting alot of popping sensation in arm and shoulder etc felt weird , but It felt alot looser and free afterwards ,sorry hard to explain , my exercise instructor told me that it was probably the tendons releasing and moving back into the correct position and moving off the nerves etc .. and that is probably why I am getting relief now from the uncomfortable sensations I was experiencing before...so to make a long story short exercise is working...

cheers and thanks for your help:)

Am so glad to hear it. It's a testimony to the power of physical therapy and physiologists who know what they're doing. Congratulations! You put in the work and are getting the rewards!